Makani Andrews Crowned Junior Pan Am Games Champion – Qualifies for 2027 Pan Am Games
America One Racing proudly announces that rising talent Makani Andrews has won the Junior Pan American Games, held in Encarnación, Paraguay, where competition took place from August 15 to 17, 2025. This win earns Makani an automatic berth to represent the United States at the 2027 Pan American Games.
Makani’s rapid development within the America One Racing IQ squad has been evident on the international stage, culminating in this breakthrough victory. In this short but high-stakes event, he showed his composure under pressure to beat the best young athletes from the Americas.
Foiling Pipeline athlete Danika Sailor’s bronze medal in the Women’s iQFOiL class headlined a strong performance from Team USA. Other standout performances included gold in the ILCA 6 Men’s fleet and a top-five finish in the ILCA 6 Women’s event — results achieved under the leadership of Team USA coaches Rosie Chapman and Sally Barkow.
“This is a defining moment for Makani,” said Juanma Moreno, A1R Project Podium Coach. “Qualifying directly for the 2027 Pan Am Games is a major achievement and a stepping stone on his journey toward the highest levels of international competition.”
The iQFOiL performances in Paraguay mark another milestone for America One Racing, highlighting the program’s dedication to guiding athletes toward Los Angeles 2028 and future international success.
Makani reports:
At the beginning of 2025, my team and I set a clear priority of winning the Junior Pan American Games. This event stood out because of what was on the line not just the title itself, but also securing two U.S. spots for the senior Pan American games later this year. From the start of January, this was circled as a peak goal for my year.
Coming back from two months in Europe after the senior world champs at the beginning of July, I knew I had to keep focused for this last stretch before heading to Paraguay for the big show. My focus was pushing my physical capabilities in the gym and dialing in my heart rate training so I could arrive at this event at my physical best. In my final training block at home, my weeks were packed with five sessions in the gym, five sessions on the water with my home training partners Sammy and Danika, plus the time it took to prep, recover, and debrief. It consumed around 80% of my week, but that’s what I felt it took for me to be prepared and feeling perfect coming into a special event such as this one.
The sacrifices this year have been real. This past month at home was one of the toughest so far. While practically all of my friends were packing their bags to leave for college and to start new chapters in their lives, instead of sharing every last moment with them I was doubling down on my training in preps for this event. Missing those moments with loved ones has been the hardest part of my campaign. But chasing something like the dream of an Olympic medal, I feel requires these kinds of sacrifices at times. Every rep, every choice, every hour, is an investment into this vision.
The event itself was anything but straightforward. Multiple times I was out of first place position by more than a point, with everything on the line. The stress in those moments was almost incomparable to anything that I have experienced in my sailing career before. I remember in these times I would think back to past moments where I had been in the same situation and I was able to pull myself together, which helped a lot. Overcoming these moments was huge for me. In the final moments, I was able to step back into the driver’s seat and close it out.
Standing on the podium, when they awarded me the gold medal, my first feeling was reassurance. The acknowledgment of all the hours, sacrifices, and effort poured into this single moment. Winning the Junior Pan American Games and punching my ticket to the senior Pan Ams is more than just a victory but another step toward the ultimate goal of the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
I want to give a huge thank you to my family, my friends, Wind Club Hawaii, and America One Racing for making this dream possible. This medal belongs as much to them as it does to me.
Next up, I’ll be looking to qualify for my fourth and final Youth Worlds this November in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Another big step in the journey, and I’m ready to give it my everything once again.
Check the Event Results HERE
About America One Racing: America One Racing (A1R) is dedicated to developing high-potential sailors and preparing them for success on the world stage. A1R provides athletes with elite coaching, performance planning, and cutting-edge resources to compete in top international events, including the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and Youth World Championships. A1R’s commitment to youth development takes place through its Foiling Platform and squad training.
This mission is made possible through the generous support of key partners—including the Sailing Foundation of New York, the Schoonmaker Foundation, and American Magic/Quantum Racing—whose shared commitment to excellence is helping elevate American sailing on the global stage.
Building on America One’s 25-year legacy of advancing sailing in the U.S., A1R continues to shape the future of the sport, ensuring American sailors have the tools to reach the podium. For more information, visit www.americaoneracing.us.